Page 132 of Quiet Burn

But the unusual hunger in my gut pushes a bit harder as our tongues slide against one another and the desire to be as close as I can is overwhelming. My hands slip down his shoulders lightly to rest on his waist, then grasp his hips as I yank him as close as possible. The warmth emanating from his frame makes my animal preen in pleasure, and I curl my toes in my shoes as I fight for control of my increasing lust.

Suddenly, loud noises not far off make me pull away, holding Kit protectively as I listen to the sounds around our haven carefully. “Shhh,” I whisper. “I think I latched us in here, so hopefully, that’s just people running off or fleeing or something.”

“Salem, if they’re fleeing, we don’t know if the others are okay,” Kit mumbles into my chest. “I’m worried about them. Not that… um.. I mean, not that this isn’t… good.”

Damn, he’s so fucking awkward and cute; it’s almost painful.

“KK, I know you’re worried,” I say as I look down at him again. “But we both know that you being out there in an unfamiliar place with unknown enemies would be distracting for the others. They’d be too concerned about you and not able to focus on kicking ass. And let me tell you, Slash is insanely good at what hedoes when he can focus. It’s terrifying and beautiful at the same time like some kind of demonic killing machine.”

“Does he really eat them?” he whispers, wrinkling his nose. “Like for real?”

I snort, my eyes dancing as I brush hair off his forehead. “Oh, totally, especially if he gets into a battle in the water. The dude is like a goddamn thresher of bloodshed in the water and a tank armed with knives on land. You haven’t seen it yet, but you’ll love it.”

“I don’t know about that.”

Shaking my head, I tweak his nose. “KK, you’re ademoninside. You aren’t totally formed yet, but Ipromiseyou, once you are? You’re going to fuckinglovecarnage. It’s going to make your whole body tremble with anticipation and glee. It’ll make you hot as hell, guaranteed.”

That makes him turn bright red. “I doubt it, Salem. I don’t even know what… you know… does that normally. Not really. I sort of… shut that all off and sealed it in boxes.”

Fuck that—no one should have to live without feeling pleasure.

“Well, we’re going to unseal it, my delicious little morsel, I promise.”

A soft laugh surprises me when he looks up at me from under his lashes with a shy grin. “Does that mean I have to say ‘yes, chef’ when I’m answering you now?”

My jaw damn near drops to the floor at the innuendo and all my former suaveness disappears. Blinking as my brain short circuits, I just stare at Kit wordlessly. His smile goes from shyto pleased to a wee bit wicked as he watches me fumble for any semblance of intelligence.

“Now I know how to get your attention, I guess.”

Only if you want me to fuck the shit out of you on the damn kitchen counter.

But I don’t say that because while we’re doing well right now, I know KK isn’t ready forthatlevel of playful banter yet. “If you… You could… I mean, be careful with that.”

Kit reaches up and puts his hands on my chest lightly, still flushed and rumpled from the make-out session. “Good to know. That you like it and that it might… make you a bit crazy, I mean. I’m not great at reading signals sometimes, but being this clear with me is really helping.”

“I’ll tell you anything you want, Kit Kat, but you have to be ready for the answers.” My expression is serious as I squeeze his hips lightly. “I don’t want to scare you off.”

His eyes dart around for a second and he bites his lip, looking like he wants to say something. I wait patiently, so damn thrilled by how this is going that I’m willing to be patient as a saint if he’ll open up. “Um, this might be a weird question, but…”

“Uh-huh…”

Leaning forward, he whispers, “Is your… Xerxes was a half-snake and his…”

How the fuck do I answerthatwithout wigging him out? Ahhhhh!

Taking a deep breath, I think about the question he didn’t actually ask for a moment then respond. “You’ll find it’s differentthan you’d expect in all three forms, and I’m not the only one. X doesn’t have any… steel… there, so there’s that but also… other stuff.”

“Whoa….”

I have to shake my head to clear it as Kit stares off into space, obviously considering what I saidverycarefully. This little breakthrough is straining the limits of my control, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to stop now. This rendezvous in the middle of the chaos outside our hiding spot is everything, and I’m going to soak up every second of it before KK realizes what he’s missing out there.

“Don’t worry about that right now, Kit Kat. Just be here with me and enjoy what’s happening now.” I smile softly, pressing forward until we’re close again and brush my lips over his. “One thing at a time.”

This kiss is deeper, and I feel like it’s because he’s trusting me to take care of him, to make sure he’s safe. It makes my chest get tight as one hand comes up to cup his cheek as we explore one another. It’s lazy and gentle at first, but the desire building up in me has been a slow, quiet burn that sparks to life in this secret alcove. Kit kisses me back, his fingers holding onto my shirt, and a soft growl of need escapes my mouth when I stop to breathe again. The hand on his hip tugs him closer as my cock twitches in excitement and I can’t help fitting our bodies together?—

What. The. Fuck.

Ripping my lips away from his, I look at him, my eyes wild with confusion as it hits me. “Holy Belphegor's hammock, KK! Did… tell me that asswipe didn’t….he didn’t hurt you there, either, did he?!”

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